Demountable rim.



C. G. HARBRIDGE.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. a, 1911.

Patented D60. 21, 19 15 UNITED s A'rEs PAT N OFFICE;

CHESTER c. IIARBRIDGE, or cIIIcAso, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T DETROIT DEMOUNYTABLE, RIM 00., or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

DEMoUri'rABLE RIM.

T 0' aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHESTER C. HARBRI GE,

a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Demountable Rims, of which the following is a full,

, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to demountable rims for pneumatic-tires, which are adapted to {facilitate replacement and removal of the tires on a vehicle-wheel. Pneumatictires for'vehicles usually comprise an outer casing which is substantially inelastic and the section may be readilyremoved from the tures hereinafter set forth and more par readily removed "from therim. 40

invention designs to provide an improved tire-rim which may be readily and quickly placed and removed from the body of the wheel. It has 'herebefore been proposed to employ a split rim' and means for holdingthe, ends of therim together when it is on "the wheel. In prior constructions in which the ends of the split rim abut together, the

tire could not be readily removed by reason of the pressure of the rim-ends against each other caused by the tire, and if an opening or gap .were left between the abutting ends, 1

the structure j would be objectionable, be cause it would readily permit moisture -to seep into the tire.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved demountable mm in which there is a removable platefor rimsectionbetween the ends of the tire-r m which extends around the wheel, and which tire independently of the rim and which, when removed, will permit one of the rim ends to be readily sprung/inwardly ofthe tire so that the latter may be quickly and The invention further designs to provide an improveddemountable ,rim for pneumatic tires. 1 7 I The'invention consists in' thernovel'featicularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. v

In the drawings; Figure lisia. sideelevation of a portion of a wheelhaving Fthe improved rim applied thereto,.parts being shown in section. Fig. 21s an inner face of disposed opposite to the locking-means, and for securing a portion of the rim on .the

wheel. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the rim. -.Fig. 5' is a section takenon 5,5 of

tachable tire. Fig. 8 is a perspective of. removable rim section.

The wheel-body may be of any suitable. construction and comprises a felly 10 hav- Specification of Letters Patent. Pateflted Dfi- I Application filed rebruarfiaim Serial naeoaasa, 1

ing an outer metallic band 11 shrunk theretend aroundthe band and is formed with flanges 16 to hold the pneumatic tirewhich comprises an outer casing 13 and an inner .tube 14 of the usualconstruction; -A- valve 15 of usual construction is connected to the inner tube as well'understood in the art.

Rim 12 is splitso that when it is removed from the wheel it may be contracted or sprung inwardly or laterally to permit the tire to be' readily placed thereon and removed therefrom. It will beunderstood that tire casings are substantially inexpansible in longitudinal direction and therefore, when the rim is split, one of its ends can be readon. A demountable rim 12 is adapted to exily sprung inwardly and laterally, so that A the tire may bereadily separated from the rim. .Tire-casings in which cables or'wires are employed at the sides thereof to render the casing'inexpansible and to fit within the rim-fianges,=such'.asis shown'in Fig. 7, in

which 13 designates the casing and 16, the

cables, and in which'thetire valve extends r through an opening adjacent one end of the split rimit is difiicult to contract the rim sufficiently to permit it to be readily separated from the casing, since there mustbe sufiicient contraction to bring the rim flanges the rim ends'and an intermediate plate or rim-section 17 corresponding in cross section -to" the rim, isremova'bly fittedand held between the ends of the rim.- This interme-- diate section is adapted to fit snugly between and close-to the gap between the endsof the {rim and has an opening-18 extending therethrough for the tire-valve 15. Said opening is formed in a'hollow rivet 19 which pivotally connects a connectingplate 20 to section '17. Each end of thejrim'is provided with an inwardly extending stud 22 which is securely riveted to the rim and has an enlarged as at 2 1 to fit around studs 22 and when held in its operative position shown in Fig. 2, it will lock the rim 17 and section together and secure the rim against contraction or exp'an sion and will also hold said plate in position to close the gap between the ends of the rim so that the latter will form a complete annulus adapted to extend around the wheel.

The plate 20 is adapted tofit against the inner face or periphery ottthe rim, tohold section 17 in alinement with the ends of the rim. Studs 22 are relatively olfset so as to avoid undue cutting away of plate 20. Thus it will be seen, that when section 17 is locked to and between the rim-ends, the rim will be inexpansible whether. the tire is present or not. r A

The tire may be readily placed-on the rim when plate 17 is removed, by flexing or contracting the rim within the tire and then permitting it to expand in the tire so that'the.

casing will pass within the rim flanges. :When this has been done the section 17 may he slipped over the valve 15 and the flanges on said section will engage the flanges on the tire. By then turning the locking-plate 20 to engagestuds 22, the rim will be complete and the tire will be properly held thereon. When it is desired to separate the rim from the tire, it is only necessary to turn plate 20 away from studs 22 and press thesides of the casing together to release section 17 from the flanges on the casing. Then-said plate can be removed to leave a space between the" ends of the rim, which will readily permit either end of the rim to'be flexed inwardly and laterally, so that the tire may be quickly removed. Since the tire-valve does not pass through either end of the rim, either or both of the rim ends may be sprung inwardly to facilitate removal of the tire from the rim.

The demounta'ble rim is held upon the wheel body by bolts 27 that pass throughthe felly and are adapted to clamp lugs 28 against one side of the rim to hold the other side'firmly seated on a flange 29 of band 11. Plate 20 fits between band '11 and the rim and when the rim is onthe wheel one side of plate 20 will engage flange 29 and lock said plate against pivotal movement. That portion of the rim 12 which is disposed diametrically o posite to the valve-has riveted thereto, a p ate 30 adapted to fit between plates which are riveted to band'll. In

placing the demountable rim upon the wheel, the valve 15 is first extended through a-hole 33 in the folly and the opposite.portion of the rim is then moved into position to bring plate 30 between, and into locking relation with, plates 31. \Vhen the rim has been placed upon the wheel, as thus set forth, the inner ends ofstuds 22 will be disposed'in recesses Zak in the wheel-body and each of the ends of the main strip of. the

rim will be thus-interlocked with the wheelrestricted to the details illustrated and de-- scribed since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaimswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the,

invention.

' ,Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a wheel body, of

a tire rim comprising a main strip having a gap between 1ts ends so thatthey may be flexed and a removable one-piece rnn section fitting in and filling the space between.

said ends, a locking device for connecting said ends detachably against separation and spanning said section to hold the same in position when the rim ends are locked thereby, and means for securing the rim removably on the body. 1

2. The combination with a wheel body, of

a tire rim comprising a main strip having a gap between its ends so that they may be flexed and a removable one-piece rim section fitting in and filling the space between said ends, interlocking means between each of said'ends and the wheel body,-a locking device for connecting said ends detachably against separation and spanning said secrim ends are locked thereby, and means for securing the rim removably on the body. 3. The combination with a wheel-body, of a tire rim comprising a main strip having a short gap between its ends so that they may be flexed and a one-piece rim-section fitting in and filling-the space between said'ends, a locking plate for detachably connecting said ends against separation, extended between the ends of the main strip and-across the gap and connected to hold said-section in position when the rim-ends are locked, and means for removably securing the rim on the body, said plate being removable with the section. j

- 4. The combination with a wheel-body, of a tire rim comprising a one-piece main strip having a short gap between its ends so that tion to hold the same in position when the they may be flexedand a one-piece rim sec tion fitting in and filling the space between said: ends, a locking platefor detachably' J connecting said ends against separat on, ex-

tendedib'etween the ends of: the main strip and-across the gap and connected to hold said section in position when the rim-ends are elockedjand means for ren'i ovably securing-therim-on the body, said main strip and section=;l1avinig' integral tire-holding flanges,

. and said plate being'removable with the section. f

'5. The combination with a whel-body,vof

atire rim comprising a mainstrip havsaid ends, a locking plate for detachably connecting said ends against separation, ex-

tended between theendsofthe main strip a and across'thega'pand connectecl'to said section to hold said section in position when the v ing a short gap between its ends so that they may be flexed and a one-piece rim-section fittingin and filling" the space between rim-ends are locked, said section having an opening therein for attire-valve, and means for removably securing the'rim on ,the body. 6. The combination with a wheel-body of atire-rimcomprising =a mainstrip having a short gap between its ends so'thatthey may -be.yflexedand'a one-piece rim-section fitting in and filling'the'space'between, said ends, a

' 'locking plate for detachably connecting said ends against separation, extended between the ends of the-main strip and across the gap and connected to said section to hold said section 'in position when the rimends are locked, said section and plate having an opening therethrough for the tire-valve, and means'for removably securing the rim on the 7. The combination with a wheel-body, of

a tire-rimpo'mprising a main strip having a shortgap between its ends so that they may be-flexed and a one-piece rim-section fitting 'in and" iilling'the space between, said ends, locking-means for detachably connecting said ends against separation,interlocking means between the sectionand the wheelbody which passes into interlocking relation by placement of'the rim on the body, and

means fori'emovably securing the rimon the 8.. The combination with a wheel-body, of a tire rimcoinprising. a mainstrip having a gap between'its ends so that they may be,

flexed and" a one-piece rim-sectionfitting in and'filling'the space between said ;en'ds, a v

, locking plate for detach'abl'y connectingsaid locked, interlocking means between the secends against separation, extended between 1 the ends of the mai'nstri'p and across the gap and; connected .to'saidsection to hold said section in positlon when the rim-ends are tion and the -whee l-fbodyf whichpasses through said plate and into'interlocking re- M191 J2-Q-Pl$ 1fi t ei erim y;

and means for removably securing the'rim on the body;

9. The combination with a wheel-body, of

a the rim comprising a main strip having a short gap between its ends so that they may i be flexed and a one-piece rim-section fitting travel on the wheel-body, interlocking-means between'the section and the wheel-body, the interlocking means between the rim-ends and the wheel-body and the section and the a wheel-body being adapted to pass into interlocking relation by placement of the rim on 'the body, and means for removably securing the rim on the body.

10,- The combinationwith awheel-body, of a tire-rim comprising a main strip having a short gap, between its ends so that they may be flexed and a one-piece rim-section fitting in and filling the-space between said ends, a locking-plate for detachably connecting said ends against separation, extended between the ends. of the main strip and v across the gap and connected to said section to hold said sectionin position when the rim-ends are locked by said plate, interlock-' ing-means between the inner face of each of said rim ends and the periphery of the wheel-body adapted to secure the rim against circumferential travel onthe wheel-body, interlocking-means between the section and [the wheel-body, the interlocking means between the rim ends and the'wheel-body and the section and the wheel-body being adapted to pass into interlocking relation by placement of the rim on the body andjmean's for removably securing the rim on the body.

11. The combination with a wheel body, of a tire rim comprising a main strip having a short gap. between its ends so that they may be flexed and acne-piece rim section fitting in and filling the space between said ends, a locking plate for detachably "connecting said ends against separatiomext'end ed between the ends of themainstripand across the gap and connectedito sald section to hold said section in position when the'rim ends are locked by said plate, said rim section and locking plate having registering openings therethrough for a tire valve, in-

each of said rim ends and the periphery of the wheel body adapted to secure the rim' tion and. the wheel body disposed in said ,openings in the rimjsectio'n and locking plate, the interlocking means between therim ends and the wheelfbod'y and the section and the wheel body being adapted to pass against circumferential travel on the wheel body, interlocking means between the sec- 1 85 terlocking means betweenthe inner face of j into interlocking relation by placement of the rim on the body, and means for removably securing the rim on the body.

' 12. The combination with a wheel-body,

of a tire-rim comprising a main strip hav-" ing a short gap between its ends so that they may be flexed and a one-piece rim-section fitting in and filling the space between said ends, locking-means for connecting the section to hold said section in position, a rivet secured to said section and having an opening therethrough for a tire-valve, said rivet projecting from the inner face of the section,

- across the gap and connected to said section to hold said section in position when the rim ends are locked, a rivet secured to said section and having an opening therethrough for a tire-valve, said rivet projecting from the-inner face of the section and means for removably securing the rim on the body. 14. The combination with a wheel-body,

- of atire rim comprising a main strip having a gap between its ends so that they may be flexed and a one-piece rim-section fitting in and filling the space between said ends, a

locking-plate for detachably connecting said ends against separation, extended between the ends of the main strip and across the gap and connected'to said section to hold said section in position when the rim ends. are

locked, a rivet secured to said section, and

extending through said plate, and having an opening therethrough for a'tire-valve, said rivet projecting from the inner face of the plate and means for removably securing the rim on the body.

15. The combination with a wheel body, of a tire rim comprising a main strip having a gap between its ends so that they may be flexed, and a removable. rim section fitting in and filling the space between said ends, a locking device pivoted to said section for detachably connecting saidends against separatiomand/means for removably securing the rim on the body.

16. The combination of a wheel-body, a spiit tire-rim having tire-holding" flanges, the ends of the rim being spaced apart, an intermediate section fitting between the rimends and having tire holding flanges, an in- Oopies of this patent may be obtained for wardly projecting studon each end of the rim, the ends of the studs being disposed to fit into the wheel-body, aconnecting 'plate, a hollow-rivet pivotally connecting said plate and said section, the plate being disposed against the inner face of the rim and having means for engaging said studs to secure the.

rim ends and said section together, and

means for removably securing the rim on the wheel-body.

.17. The combination of a wheel-body, a,

tire-rim having its ends spaced apart, an intermediate section fitting between the ends of therim, said section and rim having tireholding flanges, a connecting plate pivoted to said section, a stud on each end of the rim, aconnecting plate pivoted to saidsection and having notches in its opposite sides for receiving and engaging said studs and disposed at the inner face of the rim, means 'on the wheel-body for engaging the plate to secure it against pivotal movement, andmeans for removably securing the rim to the wheelbody.

18. The combination of a wheel-body,.of

a split tire-rim, having its ends spaced apart,

an intermediate removable section fitting between the ends of the rim, the latter and. said section having tire -holding flanges, a plate Y pivoted to said section, said section andplate having an openingthrough for a tire valve, said plate being pivoted to swing lat-' erally and disposed at the inner face ofsaid rim, a stud on each end of the rim, offset relatively to each other, said studs having. I terminals adapted to extend into the wheelbody, and means for detachably securing the rim to the wheel body.

19. A wheel rim having. separated ends, a filler plate adapted to bridge the interval between the'separated ends, and a locking plate swiveled on the filler plate and adapted to lock the plate and the separated ends in alinement.

20. A wheel rimhaving separated ends," a I I filler plate adapted to bridge the interval between the separated ends, studs on the separated ends, and a keeper plate swiveled on the filler'plate and adapted to engagethe studs to hold the filler plate in position.

21. A wheel rim having separated ends, a I

filler plate adapted to bridge the interval between the separated ends and provided with a tubular rivet forming an opening for a tire air nipple, and a keeper journaled on the rivet and engaging the separated ends for holding the filler plate in position.

CHESTER c. HARBRIDGE.

Witnesses:

FRED GERLAGH, FRANK BEMM.

Washington. D. 0.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner-of 285Bhi$; 

